Life of Pol

I've been tryin to keep a good balance as far as my emotions are involved. But I haven't been doing very well the past few days. It's difficult being at home now without Steve. Even with the slightly shorter hours at the restaurant, he's still gone 12 hours every day. It was easier to handle those lonely times until he was home for three months, and I got a taste of what it would be like to have him home all the time.  Now I'm alone while he's being forced to work in a pandemic, with idiots who refuse to wear a mask and protect others. I've been trying to stay off of social media as much as possible. It only leads to confrontations and more stress. I'm trying to keep up with this blog, but do you really want to hear me bitch and moan every day? Because that's all I feel I have inside some days. This pandemic is only getting worse. It's supposed to be getting better because all that we have learned over the past five months. But no, it worsens be...

Well, I started writing again yesterday. I would say this is a good sign, but I started writing again a few weeks ago, or at least I thought I had. Let's hope this time works out a bit better. Stay safe. Mask up. Protect others.

Sadly, there are people who think this whole thing is over. There are even some who never believe it was that bad to begin with. Those are mostly the idiots who follow the KKK leader tRump. But this horrible pandemic is far from over. And it is only going to get worse because of those ignorant people. I keep seeing videos about people making scenes in stores because they refuse to wear a mask when required. These morons don't have the common sense to GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT! But no, they feed on the stress and anxiety they put onto others. They feed on it like the parasites they are. Am I upset? Of course. I'm doing my best to stay safe and stay inside. Steve is forced to work around idiot customers who don't wear masks because they only care about themselves when going out to eat. I'm doing my best not to have a nervous breakdown as I worry about the ONE person in my life staying safe. Several states are about to hit "apocalyptic" surges, ...

In 2008, Steve and I went to Canada to get married. At the time, there were only a couple of states in the US that allowed same sex marriage. We had already waited 16 years, and didn't want to wait any longer. We decided that Niagara Falls would be our destination, and it was only the two of us, but we've never regretted it. We're used to it being just the two of us. Been that way for twenty-nine years. Canada is a beautiful place. The people there are really nice, too. We had stayed in a hotel right on the edge of the falls. It was amazing. We were about 40 stories up, but still had to close the window at night because of the noise of the water.  Canada was the reason we ended up moving to Colorado. We had thought Austin was so pretty and had great hills country and trees, until we went to Canada and saw real trees for the first time. When we got back to Austin, the difference was something that couldn't' be ignored. We wanted badly to move to Canada, but the cost...

I had so much fun writing the Genie in a Bottle series. Out of all the characters I have created, I think I may have had a crush on Inas the most. Here's a little excerpt from the first installment: I know I should have been terrified that there was a strange man standing in my bedroom, but I had just watched him emerge from a bottle, so I figured I’d let him explain. I didn’t know what to say at first. All I could do was stare at him in wonder. He was at least six feet tall, with shoulders almost as wide. He was olive-skinned, as if from somewhere in a desert—the Middle East. His face was slender with a neatly-trimmed goatee framing out his very full lips. His head was adorned with a thick mane of long black hair that was pulled into a ponytail and draped sleepily across his shoulder like an ebony serpent. His arms were thick and well-muscled, he held them folded across his chest. He wore big puffy pants and an open purple vest that was too small for him, with gold embro...

Yesterday's post looks a bit weird, but there's no way for me to fix it because the blogger folks who decided to update the site never put the Edit button back!  "Oh, here's the new format. Jut let us know if we've missed anything, and we'll get right on it." Uh, hello? I've mentioned the Edit button missing since you idiots changed everything! Things like yesterday's  post, I can't tell they look weird or if something happens to it, after I publish. But now, there's no way to fix anything. It would be nice if 2020 had an Edit button. Maybe it did, but the people who run this blogger site are also in charge of that, and they left it off. Everything seems darker this year. Each day. Each week. The future. Sometimes I wish I could just go to sleep and wake up when it's all over, because I just don't have the strength to keep going. So much sadness and anxiety in the world today. I'm surprised there's not a tremendous increase...

"When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight , an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun . This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger? In Midnight Sun , Stephenie Meyer transports us back to a world that has captivated millions of readers and brings us an epic novel about the profound pleasures and devastating consequences of immortal love." Okay, that's the synopsis for Midnight Sun ! And I am not ashamed to...

AMC movie theaters announced that they will reopen., but they will not be requiring patrons to wear a mask, because they want to avoid political incorrectness.  WHAT? They don't want to piss anyone off? Too bad! If the assholes don't want to wear a mask and help protect others from this freaking virus, then they shouldn't go to the movies! They shouldn't go out to restaurants! They shouldn't walk around grocery stores with their five snotty nose kids in tow! It's decisions like this that are exacerbating the already huge problem. I love going to the movies as much as the next person, and I've been looking forward to upcoming movies like Mulan coming out in July and Wonder Woman in October.  But will we go? NO! There is no way in hell that I'm going to sit in a closed theater for two hours breathing in other people's germs. This was a bad decision on AMC's part.  Please remember, everyone, that this virus is NOT OVER! The second wave hasn...

I keep trying to remain positive and keep negativity at a distance. But it's not working very well. Steve got up at five this morning to go to work. It was early because he had to open the kitchen, which he hates to do. So, he went to work hating his job. That kills me!  I can't stand that he still has to work. Then I get on to write this blog, and I see that yesterday's post, where I talked about an upcoming project, something I rarely do, was the least viewed post in the past three months ! Really? The more I try to stay positive, the more negative influences attack me. I try to have positive thoughts where my writing is concerned, but it seems that no matter what, something negative about it surfaces. Now, I get to spend the next thirteen hours worried about Steve and depressed. Sorry about the downer post, but it's gonna happen from time to time. Stay safe. Mask up. Protect other. 💓

Up until the quarantine began, I had been awful about keeping up with this blog. Mostly because there were so few readers and little interest, I didn't have much interest, either. But that's changing now, isn't it? Things are changing, and they're starting to change because of your support. I thank you for that. And in return, I would like to share something with you, and only the readers of this blog. Like most authors, I rarely talk about a future projects in fear of being ripped off. But I think I can trust you guys. One of the projects I have coming up is the first installment of another YA series. This one with a gay protagonist. The series is called My Leprechaun . The first book is titled: The End of the Rainbow . The story follows a seventeen-year-old boy named Leo, who happens to come across the end of a rainbow. That is where he meets Finn, a leprechaun with a big problem on his hands. (Yes, that's why we named our baby Finn, after this character.) I don...

Yesterday will go down as the longest day in history. I woke up early (from a restless night's sleep), around 4:15 or so. The fact that Steve was going back to work had me anxious. He didn't have to go into work until noon, so after he woke up, I anxiously kept myself busy until it was time for him to leave. I knew I had to keep busy, or I would make myself crazy with worry. I started by straightening up the garage, getting it ready for our moving boxes to be piled up. But there wasn't that much to do out there, so my busy work only lasted about half an hour. I spent the rest of the day piddling around the apartment. I walked the dogs a few times (each separately, which is twice the fun). I watched a movie. I sat outside on the patio and listened to music. Steve wouldn't be home from work until 10:30 or so. Around 3:30, I was going bonkers. During our quarantine, Steve and I were already beginning to run out of things to do around the apartment, and we were getting bore...

Today's the day. Steve goes back to work. I'm trying  to be brave and have faith that everything will be okay. I know it will be, but just holding onto that assurance is difficult when you're sending the most important person in your life out into harm's way. I didn't sleep very well last night. That shouldn't be a surprise. I'm tired, but I am going to have to keep myself busy all day so I don't make myself crazier. We went to Walmart yesterday, and it didn't help my fears when I saw how many inconsiderate people weren't wearing masks. They don't care about other people. They feel the virus isn't as bad as reported, or they feel that if they're not sick, why should they wear a mask? They don't get the concept of carrying the virus without showing symptoms. When I see someone without a mask, my immediate evaluation of them as a human being plummets. I see them as a person who only cares about themselves. And I also assume they...

Steve and I always joked that we were cellies during this quarantine. We were perfect cellies. We got along really well. We worked out at rec time. Even "got a little" after lights-out. 😉 But, my cellie's been paroled.  Steve goes back to work tomorrow, and I'm trying not to freak out about it. I know he's nervous about it, too, so I'm trying not to think about that , also. I'm just praying and trying to stay positive that all of the new precautions in place will protect him. But I know there are still going to be so many idiots not wearing masks, that he'll be put in harm's way no matter what. Aside from all the safety issues with Steve going back to work, I'm trying not to dwell on what it means here at home. All dog walking trips will rely on me. Up and down three flights of stairs. Brodee and Finn have to be walked separately because they're too big for just one person to walk. Too many other crazy dogs at this complex. I know the dogs...

Well, thankfully our time in apartment life is approaching an end, as September quickly approaches, and also the end of our lease. But that means we have to find a house pretty fast. It's a good thing Steve's super power is finding us cool houses. This will be our fifth house in our twenty-nine-year relationship. Hopefully the universe will work with us this time, and we'll find a place where we can rest our weary bones for many years. The house won't be on our mountain as we had envision when we first came to Colorado, it's just not feasible with Steve having to work in the Springs. But we're still in Colorado. We'll still have the mountains close by. I'll always miss the Cabin Above the Clouds. But I suppose I knew there would always be an end date living up there. While it was stunningly beautiful, it was a lot of work living at 9,800 feet. And even though the shoveling of snow and chopping of wood was all well and good at the time, I couldn't he...

Every author pictures their books becoming best-sellers and even having movies made from them. I'm no different. I've pictured every one of my books being made into movies (especially when one of them was actually under contract). The main book I see this happening to is Luthor . Just the story and settings would make a great film. The perfect Luthor scenario . . . Word of mouth begins to take hold and book sales increase. More reviews are posted, and the name Luthor is begin to get known. I have sent copies to director Guillermo del Toro, I also add him to tweets about Luthor on Twitter. In this perfect scenario, he takes notice and reads the book. And as anyone who has read the Luthor's story knows, that would be all it would take.  Mr. del Toro contacts me immediately with interest of making a movie of Luthor . Of course, I say yes. 😄 In his movie The Shape of Water , Guillermo del Toro took a deaf woman and a sea creature, and made them fall in love. And won several ac...

Not sure what today will bring. We had a nice day yesterday, it was Brodee's 4th birthday, so we showered him with extra love and kisses all day. It was clear he felt it. I'm trying not to focus too much on the fact that Steve has to go back to work on Monday. Trying not to worry. I know God will keep him safe. He has to keep him safe, he's all I have. They say that there will be a vaccine by the end of the year. I pray this is accurate. I can't wait for the day when all of this is behind us. When I can walk by another person and not feel as if I've been contaminated by some radioactive substance.  I look forward to the day when gyms and movie theaters and restaurants are all normal and safe places to go. I look forward to 2021! Man, this New Year's is going to be a big celebration, since everyone will be so glad to kick 2020 out the freaking door! This whole year has been one thing after another.  I wonder what the numerology people say about the numbers 2020. ...

Steve is going back to work. We knew it would happen sooner or later. But we were just hoping for later. He got the call last night, and will return to work on Monday. Our emotions are all over the place. While, of course, we're glad Steve still has a job, the thought of being thrown out into the public right now, after we have spent the past three months protecting ourselves, is nerve racking.  I hate that I can't be there to protect him. I know it'll be okay. I know there are different safety measures in place now that weren't there before, but still . . . Aside from the fear for Steve, I am facing the overwhelming sense of impending loneliness. The only reason I write is so that one day Steve won't have to work, and we can spend every day together. The past three months were the closest we've been to that dream, even though it was brought on by other circumstances.  Now it's gonna be back to spending hours alone while Steve's stuck at work. Hopefully ...

HBO is doing a reboot of Looney Toons, but with a few changes. Elmer Fudd will lose his signature rifle. HBO claims "we're not doing guns." Which is fine, if you're against guns. I don't particularly care for them. But really? I understand about trying not to glorify gun violence and all of that, which is great. But Elmer Fudd is a hunter. That's why he carries a rifle. Apparently, Yosimite Sam is losing his pistols, too. I'm more okay with this because he was never a responsible gun owner in the first place. In general, I don't really know how I feel about all of this. On the one hand, I understand that cartoon characters blowing one another's heads off with guns can lead to the wrong message being sent to children. But they're cartoons (Elmer and Yosimite, not the children).  Has political correctness gotten to the point that everything must be shielded. Can people no longer decipher between reality and a cartoon? What's next, the sudde...

It's going to happen again! Godzilla vs King Kong! I've always loved the big monster movies, and have really enjoyed the revamp the last few years. In 2017, Kong-Skull Island came out. Then in 2014, the first Godzilla movie came out (there was one before with Matthew Broderick, but that one's not part of this series). Then, last year, Godzilla-King of Monsters came out, and that one really connected everything and set the scene for what's to come. Like many of you, I grew up watching Godzilla and King Kong go at it, destroying everything in their path as they did. While today's movies and special effects are a far cry from actors in monster suits, the old movies were exciting in their time as the new movies are now. King Kong has always been a favorite of mine.  I can't wait for this new movie. It was set to be released this past March, but with the pandemic, everything was put on hold, so the new release date is in November. No trailers yet, still. I can'...

I thought I would continue with the excerpt theme, and share the opening of one of the most disturbing and twisted books I have ever written- Inanimate Objects The house was strange to her.   Unlike any she had ever known.   It was large.   Old.   The smell of mildew clung to the air like a disease. The night was cold and dark.   The nightgown she wore was barely enough to keep the chill off her shoulders.   She walked, slowly, down a hallway that seemed to have no end.   She was scared, because she did not know the house and knew for certain that she was lost within its walls.   She desperately wanted to leave, but could not discern how. As she walked down the hallway, cobwebs fell across her face.   Stroking her skin like ghostly gossamer fingers.   She touched the wall and felt along it, hoping to find her way to safety.   Tears streamed down her cheeks as she realized she might never return to the house she knew to be sa...

Here's another excerpt from one of my books- Luthor “What can you do for him?” “I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for him.   Joshua, I feel that the best thing you and Amanda could do is give the baby up to people who would be better prepared to look after him.   People more qualified in dealing with disabled children.   Perhaps they could find ways to fix some of his problems.” Joshua stood again and walked to the doorway, looking down the hallway in one direction then the other.   Looking for something, but not looking for anything at all. “No, we can't do that.   That would kill Amanda.   She wouldn't understand.   She's not strong enough.   She's been through too much already.   No, she . . . she needs this baby.”   Joshua turned and looked again at Dr. Keith.   “I want to see her.” “I have to tell you.   Amanda was insistent upon seeing the baby.   We couldn't refuse her.   She thought we had taken ...

I want to talk about books again today. But not my own. I want to talk about my favorite series.  The Tiger's Curse ! The books are by author Colleen Houck. They are the story of a young girl named Kelsey, who gets sucked into a 300-year-old curse when she encounters a mysterious white tiger named Ren at a local circus.  Kelsey soon discovers that the tiger she was drawn to is actually an Indian prince who has been cursed. He and his brother, Kishan, had been cursed to live as tigers, and Kelsey is whisked around the world to help break that curse. The first thing that attracted me to these books were the covers. They are beautiful. There is actually five books, Tiger's Dream was the last book to come out, but it's not shown in the picture I found.  Once Kelsey meets Ren and Kishan, they initial curse begins to break down, and they can turn back to human form for four hours at a time. There is a love triangle that is almost as difficult to root for a favorite as it was w...

Well, I missed yesterday as far as my blog goes. By the time I realized I hadn't done it, it was after eight at night. By that time, my brain is turned off for the day. It was an odd day, anyway. It was about an hour or two after Steve woke up, and he asked me, "Is today our wedding anniversary?" After being quarantined for the last three months, I didn't have a direct answer. So, once we confirmed what day and date it was, we realized, it was indeed our wedding anniversary. Twelve years ago yesterday, Steve and I were married in Canada, at Niagara Falls. One of the best days of my life. (On June 7th, it will be twenty-nine years that we've been together.) There wasn't much for us to be able to do for the special day yesterday, but we made it as nice as we could. We spent a lot of time out on the patio enjoying the nice weather. Steve cooked ribs all day, and when we ate them around six or so, you just needed a fork to push the meat off the bone. I'm not ...

Here's another little excerpt from another book. This one from the opening of Squish-Squash .  Little five-year-old Billy is on an annual camping trip with his family in the Louisiana bayou. He and his mother are down by the river . . . Mary turned and looked at Billy, who was still catching unsuspecting frogs and tossing them into the river.   Poor frogs.   She looked at the water, which had turned slightly darker with the setting of the sun.   She stared at the growing blackness of it.   She watched the ripples reflect off what was still left of the daylight.   She heard a kerplop and watched the ripples grow.   Billy had caught and tossed another frog.   Mary smiled to herself as she imagined the frogs cursing her precious son as he grabbed them, “But I just got out of there, you son of a biiiiitch!” Kerplop ! But her smile faded slightly as she stared at the water.   A feeling of foreboding had crept over her and was tracing its icy ...